Thu Nov 03, 2011 8:28 pm
I'm also relatively new to this forum. There's always going to be tons of y'all that have been here before me, and many that will join after. Since joining the forum, I've discovered the community that exits is pretty cool. From art discussion, to giveaways, to meet up's at events, it's been great to hear peoples thought, opinions, and terrible attempts at jokes. I even had a chance to sit down and have some margaritas with a couple of you at MMM2. At the end of the day, i feel like the people that are here, and contributing to the site, creating threads, are all collectors. And just cause some of us are new to the forum, doesn't mean that we're all new to the idea of collecting. The idea of having a collection that was of value, was probably introduced to me as a kid, hearing stories about some baseball card that was worth a ton of cash. Baseball cards were never my thing, I did have some first edition Magic the Gathering cards though... The bulk of my collecting manifested itself in recent years with vinyl records. The thing there, vinyl records aren't retaining their value as much these days. With the resurgence of the format, artists are re-issuing albums that were previously only available in a limited sense. The fact that I paid $300 for a first pressing of Wilco's Summerteeth, only to have it re-issued on a vinyl that anyone can grab in any record store for $20 doesn't make me love the album any less. It doesn't keep me from looking for other records that I want, because I like listening to the records. I like the album sized artwork, the attention that goes into liner notes, and the entire "experience" of listening to a record one side at a time. I feel like its process, and that process makes it a more enjoyable experience. Also the fact that these records will sound as amazing in 50 years as they do today, baring my house burning down, which would suck, lends to my continued collecting.
Now before this post gets flagged for being in the wrong thread, my point is this: collectors or no, everyone has a reason for F5'ing on a Friday. Some prints get picked up because the art is amazing. Some are aided by the benefit of being done by a highly sought after artist. Others get snatched for being associated with a film/band that is beloved by the buyer. And everyone has a different opinion of which prints are baddass, and which ones are passes. Even in my own house, there is a difference of opinion as to which will be framed first. I bet Whalen does the entire animated Disney series. Time will tell.
Mondo continues to draw more and more followers, and prints will become tougher to acquire. Having a higher run might give those folks who are trying to complete their Disney collection an easier time to make that happen. I'm really only interested in a few Disney titles, and I'll have to see the artwork before I commit to it. I have to imagine that Robin Hood will be one I chase pretty actively. I f'ing love that movie. The Incredible's too. And if those prints turn into a highly sought after item, and their value skyrockets, I'll probably throw down the extra cash and get the Museum glass. And perhaps that's a big part of it too, having a print that someone else wants. I've come to accept the fact that, barring winning the lottery, I'll not have a set of Moss' Star Wars. So it goes. There's always a brass ring to chase.
Final rant, whatever your reason you've chosen to be a part of a community of art collectors. Whether or not you see it that way, eh, that's up to you. If you don't consider a print to be worth the paper its printed on due to the size of the run, or you just hate the art, don't buy it or PB for somebody else. Because until these things stop selling out, they will sell out every time. And at the very least, that means that artists are getting paid to make art. And sometimes a room needs a little less of Monet's haystacks, and a little more of Doyle's neon DeLorean.
Stay thirsty my friends.